LunA-10 Initiative: Charting a New Course for Commercial Lunar Operations

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 07 December 2023 00:51

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023

In a significant move towards fostering a robust lunar economy, DARPA has announced the selection of 14 companies for the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study. This groundbreaking initiative is set to redefine the approach to lunar infrastructure, transitioning from isolated, self-sufficient systems to an integrated, commercially viable framework. Dr. Michael "Orbit" Nayak

LunA-10 Initiative: Charting a New Course for Commercial Lunar Operations
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023

In a significant move towards fostering a robust lunar economy, DARPA has announced the selection of 14 companies for the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study. This groundbreaking initiative is set to redefine the approach to lunar infrastructure, transitioning from isolated, self-sufficient systems to an integrated, commercially viable framework.

Dr. Michael "Orbit" Nayak, program manager in DARPA's Strategic Technology Office, emphasized the transformative nature of LunA-10. "This program marks a paradigm shift in lunar economy thinking," he said. "We're looking to shift towards a self-sustaining, monetizable, commercially owned-and-operated lunar infrastructure within the next decade."

DARPA, with its 65-year legacy in space technology R and D, has been instrumental in shaping the space technology landscape. Its notable contributions include the Saturn V rocket technology, the Television and Infrared Observations Satellites (TIROS) program, and a recent collaboration with NASA for a nuclear thermal rocket engine. The LunA-10 study aims to continue this legacy, enabling U.S. leadership in space.

The LunA-10 initiative is not just about technology development; it's a collaborative effort involving big and small, domestic and international companies. These companies have been tasked with designing integrated system-level solutions that encompass multiple lunar services like power, mining, communications, transit, and construction.

The chosen companies for LunA-10 include

+ Blue Origin
+ CisLunar Industries
+ Crescent Space Services LLC
+ Fibertek, Inc.
+ Firefly Aerospace
+ GITAI
+ Helios
+ Honeybee Robotics
+ ICON
+ Nokia of America
+ Northrop Grumman
+ Redwire Corporation
+ Sierra Space
+ SpaceX

The program's approach is reminiscent of DARPA's past successes, where foundational technologies evolved into significant, broad-based infrastructures, as seen with the ARPANET growing into today's internet. LunA-10's goal is to establish similar foundational nodes for a thriving commercial economy on the Moon.

However, the LunA-10 study has its limitations. It will not fund technology construction, transportation to the lunar surface, or integration with lunar delivery vehicles. Instead, the focus is on catalyzing the setup of a future civil lunar framework for peaceful U.S. and international use, aligned with the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

The selected companies will present their work at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Spring Meeting in April 2024, offering a glimpse into the future possibilities of lunar commerce and industry. A final report is expected in June 2024, marking the culmination of this ambitious seven-month study.

DARPA's LunA-10 program represents a significant step towards a future where the Moon plays a key role in humanity's space endeavors, not just for exploration and scientific research, but as a hub for commercial activity and innovation. The involvement of diverse companies in LunA-10 is a testament to the growing interest and feasibility of lunar development, reflecting a broader trend of public-private partnerships in space exploration.

For full details on the LunA-10 Capability Study, please see SAM.gov